The Final Audition: Miranda, Julien, and Martin Fighting for Their Futures in Minnesota

All three ruined by the Twins.  Exceptional AAA players who never had a chance under the tutelage of Rocco and team.

And spare us the “lots of good minor leaguers never make it” baloney.  No one (specifically position players) makes it under Rocco. Name one. Jeffers is the best and only possible example.  He’s about an average major league catcher (and he’s a catcher basically platooning his entire career). The jury is still out on Wallner, Lee and Lewis - maybe one of them will develop into an above average everyday major leaguer. Lewis has the best chance and we all hope he does make it - but no one can argue he’s attained anything near his potential (including considering his injuries). Lee is expected to be a utility player in a year or two.  Wallner goes back and forth between a dependable slugger and not playable.  And he really only plays against righties.  Spare us on Larnach.  The most successful Twins minor leaguers actually make it with other teams.

The best thing that could happen to Miranda, Julien and Martin is a change of scenery.  And I’d hate to be a position player drafted by or traded to the Twins. The successs rate just isn’t there.  

I think Miranda is dead in the water…. Can’t hit at AAA, poor plate discipline, poor fielder at 1B and 3B.  
 

Julien though a poor defender at 2B has atleast hit at AAA, has good plate discipline (passive at times) and had played some a 1B in AAA (finally)  I think he has one more shot.  
 

Martin I believe has the best chance to stick….  Right handed OF with speed, who hit well this yr at AAA.  Even if he is a bench bat only if he can play solid defense in LF and CF option with all the LH OF a good chance to stick even if it’s in a limited role.  
 

11 minutes ago, Nashvilletwin said:

All three ruined by the Twins.  Exceptional AAA players who never had a chance under the tutelage of Rocco and team.

And spare us the “lots of good minor leaguers never make it” baloney.  No one (specifically position players) makes it under Rocco. Name one. Jeffers is the best and only possible example.  He’s about an average major league catcher (and he’s a catcher basically platooning his entire career). The jury is still out on Wallner, Lee and Lewis - maybe one of them will develop into an above average everyday major leaguer. Lewis has the best chance and we all hope he does make it - but no one can argue he’s attained anything near his potential (including considering his injuries). Lee is expected to be a utility player in a year or two.  Wallner goes back and forth between a dependable slugger and not playable.  And he really only plays against righties.  Spare us on Larnach.  The most successful Twins minor leaguers actually make it with other teams.

The best thing that could happen to Miranda, Julien and Martin is a change of scenery.  And I’d hate to be a position player drafted by or traded to the Twins. The successs rate just isn’t there.  

Ruined by nothing but their lack of Big League Talent.

Martin’s bat has been adequate for a 4th OF role. His glove was the problem but he is athletic enough to improve defensively.

Julien is just good enough to play for a bad team. He was best when Farmer was there to cover for his flaws.

Miranda is more likely to play overseas than in MLB.

16 minutes ago, RpR said:

Ruined by nothing but their lack of Big League Talent.

Just like all our top AAA position players.  Every one.  Please enlighten all of us about the inordinate success the Twins have transitioning those players.  

"Of the three, Austin Martin may have the toughest road ahead."

I struggle to see how you could possibly come to that conclusion after reviewing the path forward for those three players. Miranda may not even get another chance for the Twins in the majors. Of the three, Martin has the best chance to make the roster next year due to his versatility. 

43 minutes ago, Nashvilletwin said:

Just like all our top AAA position players.  Every one.  Please enlighten all of us about the inordinate success the Twins have transitioning those players.  

They come into the minors to show the level of talent they have; they either can make it or they cannot not.

It being some one else's fault, is throwing the failure where it did not come from, simple as that.

They simply are not good enough from the get-go.

58 minutes ago, RpR said:

They come into the minors to show the level of talent they have; they either can make it or they cannot not.

It being some one else's fault, is throwing the failure where it did not come from, simple as that.

They simply are not good enough from the get-go.

Which position player has successfully transitioned (every day regular - average to above average) to the majors under Rocco?  He’s been at the helm since 2019.

Simple question. Just name one (other than Jeffers, a catcher).

Crickets. 
 

Either we can’t draft or we can’t develop. Given the initial success in the show so many of our “Top 100” accomplished minor leagues have had, I’m taking “we can’t develop”

I’m wondering if any other small/mid market team has had as little success in this endeavor over the past seven years?  Doubt it.  Under Rocco we are probably the standard bearers in futility. 

3 minutes ago, LastOnePicked said:

I don't know. Each flashed some legitimate ability to succeed at the big-league level. I'm guessing another organization could have unlocked more. The Twins are just too good at getting less production out of more potential.

Exactly. 

23 minutes ago, LastOnePicked said:

I don't know. Each flashed some legitimate ability to succeed at the big-league level. I'm guessing another organization could have unlocked more. The Twins are just too good at getting less production out of more potential.

A Lot of rookies come up and are hot for a  few weeks/days,

A "flash of success" typically refers to a brief and fleeting moment of achievement . It's a success that is short-lived and doesn't  indicate long-term progress . It's often used to describe a sudden, unexpected, and often temporary success, much like a "flash in the pan"

9 hours ago, Nashvilletwin said:

All three ruined by the Twins.  Exceptional AAA players who never had a chance under the tutelage of Rocco and team.

And spare us the “lots of good minor leaguers never make it” baloney.  No one (specifically position players) makes it under Rocco. Name one. Jeffers is the best and only possible example.  He’s about an average major league catcher (and he’s a catcher basically platooning his entire career). The jury is still out on Wallner, Lee and Lewis - maybe one of them will develop into an above average everyday major leaguer. Lewis has the best chance and we all hope he does make it - but no one can argue he’s attained anything near his potential (including considering his injuries). Lee is expected to be a utility player in a year or two.  Wallner goes back and forth between a dependable slugger and not playable.  And he really only plays against righties.  Spare us on Larnach.  The most successful Twins minor leaguers actually make it with other teams.

The best thing that could happen to Miranda, Julien and Martin is a change of scenery.  And I’d hate to be a position player drafted by or traded to the Twins. The successs rate just isn’t there.  

Julien is the fault of God.  That is simply not a MLB player. 

I'm sure someone will leave me a reply providing the "cheap Pohlads" are to blame for his sub-beta personality.. 

Miranda seemed to be really coming on as a Twins hitter.  He had that stretch of 12 hits in a row.  But then he was hit in the helmet by a pitch.  He's never been the same.

Martin will stick around. He has defensive skills and speed.  He might actually find a late blooming MLB bat and if he does, he will be our 4th OF/pinch running specialist for years to come. We need that. I can see where he will be a tandom as a 4/5 OF with GG or Erod to start ‘26.  Thats if an actual MLB OF isn’t brought in from a different org or in FAgency.

Miranda is lost and will likely live in AAA as depth or dfa’d. There are way too many young infielders coming thru the system that take his chances away. Clemons is a temporary block as well. 
 

Julien is an interesting talent. His defense hasn't gotten better and his MLB bat might just not be enough to stick and be serviceable.

The org hasn’t failed these guys. They are simply fringe talent that has had shots and haven’t had prolonged results. Maybe that will change in the future but who knows. 
 

Just use them as trade bait for someone 

I'm ok with Martin.  But I'd rather see some of the kids than the others.  

9 hours ago, TheLeviathan said:

The premise I like....but Martin doesn't deserve the slander of being lumped with these two.

I agree.  However, he HAS been with the organization for 4 years and is getting his first big league at bat of the season AFTER the start of August.  So it's NOT like he's taken the bull by the horns and forced them to put him on the field.  In an ideal world HE would have played the role Willie Castro has for two and a half years.  He didn't.

1 hour ago, Nshore said:

Miranda seemed to be really coming on as a Twins hitter.  He had that stretch of 12 hits in a row.  But then he was hit in the helmet by a pitch.  He's never been the same.

Mauer took a bang to the head and was never the same. 

And he was a proven all-around player...

10 hours ago, LastOnePicked said:

Each flashed some legitimate ability to succeed at the big-league level.

Very true, which is why it's so disappointing to see Julien and Miranda flailing. I think the talent WAS there, but then it disappeared? Can we blame that all on Twins coaches or like of development? I honestly don't know.  But I still have hope that Martin can stay healthy, get some real playing time and show us if he's for real or not. 

10 hours ago, LastOnePicked said:

I don't know. Each flashed some legitimate ability to succeed at the big-league level. I'm guessing another organization could have unlocked more. The Twins are just too good at getting less production out of more potential.

Julien has never shown such ability. Even hitting .282 (his peak) his "defense" made him a bet loss.  And then his glove work went into decline...

On a well-constructed roster, maybe he has enough bat (probably not, ever...) to be a pinch hitter.  On the recent Twins' rosters he is an unusable liability, and lately (1.5 seasons...) needs about 10 roster moves ahead of him, of quality, to be anything but an anchor!

9 hours ago, RpR said:

A Lot of rookies come up and are hot for a  few weeks/days,

A "flash of success" typically refers to a brief and fleeting moment of achievement . It's a success that is short-lived and doesn't  indicate long-term progress . It's often used to describe a sudden, unexpected, and often temporary success, much like a "flash in the pan"

Still crickets.   Zero position players in seven years under Rocco.

35 minutes ago, Brandon27 said:

Just use them as trade bait for someone 

Something...

A bag of balls, the bag...

12 hours ago, DJL44 said:

Martin’s bat has been adequate for a 4th OF role. His glove was the problem but he is athletic enough to improve defensively.

Julien is just good enough to play for a bad team. He was best when Farmer was there to cover for his flaws.

Miranda is more likely to play overseas than in MLB.

The Austin Martin that plays for the twins? His career OPS is .664 (career minor league OPS is .764), which might be adequate if he was a good defender. 

IMO these three shouldn't be in the Twins plans, unless of course they trade Lopez and/or Ryan in the offseason then they should be starters on a team trying to win 60 games.